posted 08. December 200402:47 AM
Comment: I don't know if this has been asked, but I suspect you've deltwith it before. The question ... Does McDonalds, or has McDonaldsrestaurants in the U.S. support the IRA financially -- ethier bycollecting or direct donation?

That's stoopid, for so many reasons. That I can't even explain. First of all, where did he hear it?

He must have some good evidence if he's believed it for 16 years, or his wife, why does that mean he can't go anyway. Plus, I really doubt that his £2 for a Big Mac will have any substantial effect. Just...no.

posted 08. December 200403:28 AM
Why is it a stupid idea? The IRA were funded partly through Noraid, which likes to pass itself off as a charity. I've known at least one American with an Irish background and surname (who liked to describe herself as Irish) who had had mailshots from Noraid and admitted that her family had given them money.

I have no idea whether McDonald's as a corporation have ever given a charitable donation to Noraid (maybe it is a stupid idea) but I don't see that it's stupid enough to just dismiss out-of-hand like that...?
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That's stoopid, for so many reasons. That I can't even explain. First of all, where did he hear it?

He must have some good evidence if he's believed it for 16 years, or his wife, why does that mean he can't go anyway. Plus, I really doubt that his £2 for a Big Mac will have any substantial effect. Just...no.

I wouldn't be so sure. I'm not knowledgable enough on the subject to give details as to the extent of their involvement, but McDonalds did have links with the IRA. I know this because the first McD's was only allowed to open in N. Ireland about a decade ago, and this was because of the IRA links. IIRC, the same goes for Boots Chemists, and maybe some others, I'd have to ask my N. Irish mother.

--------------------"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today - it's already tomorrow in Australia" - Charles Schulz

quote:Originally posted by BeachLife: I'll take a cite on the 'IRA got McDonalds into N. Ireland' for 100 please Angel of Destiny.

I think she was saying that "(perceived?) IRA links kept McDonalds out of Northern Ireland", not that the IRA got them in there.
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posted 08. December 200404:49 AM
Yeah, that's what I thought, Richard. If that's the case though, how did McD's manage to get so many of their caffs into mainland towns? They're not exactly the most popular organisation in Britain either...

--------------------I want you to lay down your life, Perkins. We need a futile gesture at this stage. It will raise the whole tone of the war.Posts: 4495 | From: Surrey, UK | Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 08. December 200405:45 AM
If I recall, this has to do with McDonald's payslips having a space for a deduction for “IRA” -- which I believe is a form of pension plan in the USA. Someone saw this and jumped to the wrong conclusion.

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posted 08. December 200407:26 AM
As a fully fledged Irishman, I can tell you that this is utter rubbish. McDonalds is a public company, operating largely through franchise agreements. There is simply no truth to this.

--------------------There's no reason to become alarmed, and we hope you'll enjoy the rest of your flight. By the way, is there anyone on board who knows how to fly a plane?Posts: 735 | From: Manchester, UK | Registered: Nov 2004
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posted 08. December 200408:23 AM
Probably this deserves a separate thread in Soapbox Derby, Pat. I'll open one there.

I don't think McDonalds have anything to do with the IRA, though I suppose it is theoretically possible that some individual franchisees could be connected.
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posted 08. December 200408:32 AM
Is the idea that McDs paid protection money to the IRA? Or is it that some money McDs donated to a "charity" went to the IRA? Or perhaps it is something more specific. I note that McDs is not run by Irish-Americans.

I'm guessing here, but it seems almost inevitable that some money will in some way wind up in the hands of terrorists. I think last year of the exposure of British forces working with terrorists in Northern Ireland. Seems like virtually every corporation in Britain contributed to terrorism in that way.

Anyone know any source for the McD's rumor? I did see it referenced without an explanation in an article once. The article simply passed over the charge as a tinfoil hat.

Of course, why would anyone care if a place they are customers at gives money to people who have been murdering men, women and children with nail bombs, running a brutal drugs trade, kneecapping teenagers with shotguns, murdering policemen, training Marxist Farc rebels and other terrorists to murder in return for money, shooting pubs up and killing civillians to murder one person they dislike, car bombing politicians for decades.

I'll choose Burger King for now, urban legend has it they support Osama Bin Laden and those responsible for the Russian School Massacre, but then why would anyone have a problem with that.

Yes, the legend is probably utterly baseless, but the question as to why anyone would have a problem with it... you might as well say "Why would anyone care if Marlboro is owned by the KKK" or "What would the problem be if Apple Snapple funded Osama Bin Laden"
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posted 08. December 200408:45 AM
Why should McDonalds - or any big corporation - be giving money to the IRA anyway? It doesn't even exist any more, not in any effective sense. It was replaced 30-odd years ago by the Provos - the Provisional IRA. And PIRA has long been an outlawed terrorist organisation - no big business could or would take the risk of passing on funds to them.In any case, for years, all the terrorist organisations in Northern Ireland have been making their moeny from drug-dealing and other criminal activities. They'd like McDonald's money, but they don't need it.

quote:Originally posted by BlueStar: [QUOTE]Yes, the legend is probably utterly baseless, but the question as to why anyone would have a problem with it... you might as well say "Why would anyone care if Marlboro is owned by the KKK" or "What would the problem be if Apple Snapple funded Osama Bin Laden"

Or if part of the profit from petrol you purchase goes to fund suicide bombers.

posted 08. December 200408:59 AM
I remember researching this before, but now I can't find my source, other than a lot of message board or blog postings. Supposedly, the rumor started when someone in the UK or Ireland discovered a payroll item for an American employee that said something like "IRA contribution" and did not understand that it was a retirement account.

quote: Or is it that some money McDs donated to a "charity" went to the IRA? Or perhaps it is something more specific.

Who knows? What I am interested in is why you are surprised that it would cause a fuss if true.

quote: I'm guessing here, but it seems almost inevitable that some money will in some way wind up in the hands of terrorists. I think last year of the exposure of British forces working with terrorists in Northern Ireland. Seems like virtually every corporation in Britain contributed to terrorism in that way.

Smokescreen. What have the UDA thugs got to do with this, Pat? Nothing. The members of the UDR and RUC who illegally provided tips offs to, and colluded with, the UDA and UFF were not financially supporting them. They colluded with them in breach of the law. Presumably you are basing your ridiculous contention that all British companies support terror on the basis that they pay tax, which is used by the government to pay the salaries of the individuals who broke the law. That is laughable.
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posted 08. December 200410:13 AM
Kathy B, I remember that as well - specifically, that somebody had seen an entry for "IRA payments" in a US company's financial statement, didn't realise that it related to pension payments and jumped to conclusions. I thought I read it here on Snopes, but a search doesn't come up with anything.

quote:Originally posted by Hell's Granny: Kathy B, I remember that as well - specifically, that somebody had seen an entry for "IRA payments" in a US company's financial statement, didn't realise that it related to pension payments and jumped to conclusions. I thought I read it here on Snopes, but a search doesn't come up with anything.

Which if you apply basic thinking, its totally rediculous, why wouod any complay publically admit to supporting the IRA? That would be the same thing if their was a deduction for "AlQueda Payment"

quote:Originally posted by diddy: Which if you apply basic thinking, its totally rediculous, why wouod any complay publically admit to supporting the IRA? That would be the same thing if their was a deduction for "AlQueda Payment"

It rediculous...

Because of the view amongst some people that Americans think there is nothing wrong with funding the IRA.

I'm sure a rumour going round that a French firm had on it's books "Donation to our friends at Al Quaeda" as seen by a FOAF would travel as widely as the other absurd rumours about XXX company supporting XXX evil group.
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quote:Originally posted by Hell's Granny: Kathy B, I remember that as well - specifically, that somebody had seen an entry for "IRA payments" in a US company's financial statement, didn't realise that it related to pension payments and jumped to conclusions. I thought I read it here on Snopes, but a search doesn't come up with anything.

We've certainly discussed this before. If not, I'm having the weirdest case of deja vu…

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quote: I'm guessing here, but it seems almost inevitable that some money will in some way wind up in the hands of terrorists. I think last year of the exposure of British forces working with terrorists in Northern Ireland. Seems like virtually every corporation in Britain contributed to terrorism in that way.

Smokescreen. What have the UDA thugs got to do with this, Pat? Nothing. The members of the UDR and RUC who illegally provided tips offs to, and colluded with, the UDA and UFF were not financially supporting them. They colluded with them in breach of the law. Presumably you are basing your ridiculous contention that all British companies support terror on the basis that they pay tax, which is used by the government to pay the salaries of the individuals who broke the law. That is laughable.

Actually, I asked what the nature of the support McDs is alleged to have given was. I would certainly consider British intell colluding with terrorists to be "supporting terrorists". You may laugh, but then you are British. Perhaps we should start a thread on whether other folks from the UK agree with you.

I don't support the IRA. Nor do I excuse the British government, or my own, for the support given to terrorists. I was extremely upset when my government used my tax money to (illegally) support terrorists in Central America. Part of my anger was the knowledge that, however unwillingly, I was supporting financially the terrorization of a civilian population.

you meant to imply that such support should surprise nobody as all corporations either pay protection money to the IRA, or pay tax to governments which pay money to the IRA, then I freely admit you are far too subtle for me.

Otherwise I now think you were just trolling.

Are you genuinely unable to distinguish between the usual meaning of "support", and the payment of protection money or the payment of taxes to a government some of whose operatives use the money illegally? You surprise me.

quote:-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I'm guessing here, but it seems almost inevitable that some money will in some way wind up in the hands of terrorists. I think last year of the exposure of British forces working with terrorists in Northern Ireland. Seems like virtually every corporation in Britain contributed to terrorism in that way.

Smokescreen. What have the UDA thugs got to do with this, Pat? Nothing. The members of the UDR and RUC who illegally provided tips offs to, and colluded with, the UDA and UFF were not financially supporting them. They colluded with them in breach of the law.

Actually, I asked what the nature of the support McDs is alleged to have given was. I would certainly consider British intell colluding with terrorists to be "supporting terrorists". You may laugh, but then you are British. Perhaps we should start a thread on whether other folks from the UK agree with you.

I am forced to ask whether you are a knave or a fool. If you cannot understand that

quote: Presumably you are basing your ridiculous contention that all British companies support terror on the basis that they pay tax, which is used by the government to pay the salaries of the individuals who broke the law. That is laughable.

is not the same as laughing about

quote: British intell colluding with terrorists to be "supporting terrorists".

then you are a fool. But I don't think you are a fool, Pat. And I am lothe to think of you as a knave.

you meant to imply that such support should surprise nobody as all corporations either pay protection money to the IRA, or pay tax to governments which pay money to the IRA, then I freely admit you are far too subtle for me.

Otherwise I now think you were just trolling.

Are you genuinely unable to distinguish between the usual meaning of "support", and the payment of protection money or the payment of taxes to a government some of whose operatives use the money illegally? You surprise me.

quote:-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I'm guessing here, but it seems almost inevitable that some money will in some way wind up in the hands of terrorists. I think last year of the exposure of British forces working with terrorists in Northern Ireland. Seems like virtually every corporation in Britain contributed to terrorism in that way.

Smokescreen. What have the UDA thugs got to do with this, Pat? Nothing. The members of the UDR and RUC who illegally provided tips offs to, and colluded with, the UDA and UFF were not financially supporting them. They colluded with them in breach of the law.

Actually, I asked what the nature of the support McDs is alleged to have given was. I would certainly consider British intell colluding with terrorists to be "supporting terrorists". You may laugh, but then you are British. Perhaps we should start a thread on whether other folks from the UK agree with you.

I am forced to ask whether you are a knave or a fool. If you cannot understand that

quote: Presumably you are basing your ridiculous contention that all British companies support terror on the basis that they pay tax, which is used by the government to pay the salaries of the individuals who broke the law. That is laughable.

is not the same as laughing about

quote: British intell colluding with terrorists to be "supporting terrorists".

then you are a fool. But I don't think you are a fool, Pat. And I am lothe to think of you as a knave.